Chameleon top



Patented Jan. 3 1899.

C. ABHELL.

CHAMELEON TOP.

(Application filed Jan. 17, 1898.;

(No Model.)

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THE Noams Prrgns cu. PHOTULITHO,WASHKNGTL)N, n c.

CHARLES ABRELL, OF ALTON, ILLINOIS.

CHAMELEON TOP;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 617,069, dated January 3, 1899.

A plication filed January 17, 1898. Serial No. 666,955. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, CHARLES ABBELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Alton, in the county of Madison and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chameleon Tops; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in chameleon tops; and the object is to provide a simple, inexpensive, and amusing, as well as instructive, toy of this class.

To this end the invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of the device, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The accompanying drawings show my invention in the best form now known to me; but many changes in the details might be made within the skill of a good mechanic without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the claims at the end of this specification.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of my improved chameleon top. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a top plan view. Fig. 4 is a perspective detail of one of the multicolored cubes.

1 represents the body of the top, which is preferably that of an inverted cone in shape, with a plane top 2, around which extends an annular radially serrated or notched flange 3. The plane face 2 is hollowed out or recessed to form the conical chamber 4. 5 denotes a reticulated cover extending across the mouth of said chamber and suitably secured at its outer edge to the notched flange 3.

6 6 represent the cubes, of which there may be an indefinite number, placed in the chamber 4, and the six plane faces of each cube are each colored differently with strong contrasting colors. These cubes may be made solid, of any light-weight material -such as pith, cork, or the like-or they may be formed hollow from sheet metal, such as aluminium,

suitably colored to produce the chromatic ef feet.

The top being set in motion in the usual manner, the cubes fly out by centrifugal force and arrange themselves in various positions against the wall of the chamber, so as to form rings of various colors, the effect of which is due to the persistence of vision, and these colored rings vary from the primary to the complementary colors, according to the. color of the faces of the cubes as presented to the vision. As the speed of the top gradually decreases the attraction of gravitation overcomes the centrifugal force imparted to the cubes and they tumble down the conical walls of the chamber and in reassembling them selves present new chromatic effects to the observer.

In some instances the cube may be replaced by spheres, each one of which is colored differently, and alike novel effect produced, and a disk of glass, celluloid, or other transparent medium may take the place of the reticulated cover.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, 1s

1. The combination with the top 1 formed with the chamber 4, of the reticulated cover 5 and the colored cubes loosely contained within said chamber 4, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A spinning top, comprising a hollow body, a series of colored objects loosely contained in said hollow body and a cover fixed to said body so as to retain said objects in place and at the same time permit of their visual inspection, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a spinning-top having its upper end formed with a concentric chamber 4, in combination with a series of independent varicolored objects loosely contained in said chamber and adapted to change their relative positions when the top is in action, and a cover adapted to permit the visual inspection of the objects, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a spinning-top having its upper end formed with a In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my recess, a reticulated cover for said recess, a signature in presence of two Witnesses. series of independent varicolored cubes, loosely contained Within said recess and 5 adapted to have their positions changed by Witnesses:

the centrifugal action of the top, substantially E. L. BARNARD, as and for the purpose set forth. A. L. FLOSS.

CHARLES ABRELL. 

